What passed, what failed: A legislative session recap

By Stephen Kalin, Associated Press

Here is a look at the fate of some of the legislation during the 2013 session of the General Assembly.

PASSED:

GUN CONTROL - In response to December's school shooting in Newtown, the state expanded its ban on assault weapons, created a ban on ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds, and expanded background checks.

STATE BUDGET - Lawmakers passed a two-year, $44 billion tax and spending plan that shifts about $6.4 billion, mostly federal Medicaid reimbursement funds, out from under the constitutional spending cap, leaving the budget at about $37.6 billion.

SCHOOL SAFETY - A school safety infrastructure council will set standards and administer $15 million in grants to help districts conduct security assessments and make improvements. Schools that choose to hire security officers must hire active or retired police officers.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH - The bill focuses on prevention, early identification and intervention techniques among mental health providers. It seeks to increase coordination among agencies, schools, health centers and families, and reduce the stigma that comes with seeking help.

UCONN EXPANSION - The Next Generation plan, funded by $1.5 billion in bonds, is intended to help the state university system build new labs, classrooms and housing, and allow for a 30 percent increase in enrollment, much of it in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

MINIMUM WAGE - The current $8.25 an hour will rise to $8.70 on Jan. 1, 2014, and to $9 on Jan. 1, 2015.

GMO LABELING - A provision delays implementation of a labeling requirement for genetically modified food until other states enact similar laws.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS - The state ends its ban on the fighting sport, allowing venues in Hartford, Bridgeport and elsewhere to host the popular events.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING - New statutes increase penalties for pimps and "johns" and removes prostitution convictions from the records of people identified as victims of human trafficking.

MATTRESS RECYCLING - A nonprofit council of mattress producers is created to develop a plan for managing discarded mattresses.

PRICE GOUGING - A ban on severe-weather price gouging is extended to services such as snow removal.

KENO - The budget authorizes the state lottery to implement keno. The game could be located in bars and restaurants.

FAILED:

DEATH CERTIFICATES - Despite lobbying by the Newtown town clerk, the legislature declined to adopt a bill that would restrict the public's access to death certificates for the 26 victims of the Dec. 14 shootings.

ENERGY AUCTION - The legislature opposed Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposal to auction off electricity services for about 800,000 customers who haven't selected a power company. The proposal was projected to generate $80 million from electric companies vying for those customers.

CAR TAX - Malloy's proposal to exempt the first $20,000 of a vehicle's assessed value from the local property tax failed to receive consideration.

DEATH WITH DIGNITY - A legislative committee did not act a proposal that would have allowed physicians to help dying patients end their own lives.

SENTENCING FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS - Legislation that would give a second chance to certain juvenile offenders serving lengthy prison sentences died in the Senate.

BED BUGS - Time ran out on legislation that would have delineated the responsibilities of landlords and tenants in dealing with the domestic critters, as lawmakers in both chambers fiddled with the details.